Device and method for dental whitening

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a portable dental whitening device. The device comprises a flexible mouthpiece including a bite platform having a horseshoe shape adapted to receive a plurality of mouth shapes. The mouthpiece comprising at least one lighting element for generating light, at least one heating element for generating heat, a flexible printed circuit board, and at least one temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heat generated by the at least one heating elements. Further, the device comprises a control unit for selectively powering said lighting element and said heating element. The dental whitening is achieved by applying simultaneously the light and the heat and the chemical activity delivered by a whitening agent provided in the mouthpiece.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Non-Provisional application of a U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 277,519 entitled ‘Self-contained, Self-adjusted, Portable Appliance for Dental Whitening’ and filed on Sep. 28, 2009. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to device and method for dental whitening. More specifically, the invention relates to device and method for dental whitening by using illumination and heat.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Tooth discoloration is a common problem known worldwide. Tooth discoloration may be caused due to various reasons. For example, the teeth may become stained by coffee or tea drinking, or by the use of tobacco products, or by drinking water with a high mineral content. In addition, genetic diseases such as dentinogenesis imperfecta, dentine dysplasia or some forms of amelogenesis imperfect may also cause tooth di...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a dental whitening device that can be used by professionals and non-professional users at home or elsewhere.

[0022]Another aspect of the present invention is that the device can fit into every mouth shape without requiring any adaptations or modifications. Moreover, most existing whitening gels and transparent dental tray for placing a tooth whitening agent can be employed with the device.

Problems solved by technology

Tooth discoloration is a common problem known worldwide.

In addition, genetic diseases such as dentinogenesis imperfecta, dentine dysplasia or some forms of amelogenesis imperfect may also cause tooth discoloration or staining.

Although these commercial products may be more affordable than using professional dental services, these products are usually not quite as effective as professional services and usually take more time to create the desired whitening the teeth.

In addition, carbamide peroxide releases urea, which is rapidly decomposed into carbon dioxide and ammonia.

However, concern has been raised about the thermal effects of such techniques on the dental pulpal tissues.

The thermal effects may result in an excessive heating of the dental pulpal tissue, which increases the chances of postoperative sensitivity.

Further, according to Luk et al., in “Effect of light energy on peroxide tooth bleaching”, Journal of American Dental Association, 2004, the application of lights significantly improves the whitening efficacy of some bleach materials, however it causes significant temperature increases in the outer and inner tooth surfaces.

Typically, temperature elevations of 5.6° Celsius (C.) or greater can cause damage of pulpal tissues and may result in necrosis (pulpal death) in 15% of cases, depending on pulp health and its physiological response capacity.

The drawbacks of these techniques are substantial costs and discomfort to the patients, derived from the need to perform the procedure in a dental office.

Typically, dental bleaching in a dental office takes a long time, sometimes amounting to more than an hour per single visit to the dental office.

Additionally, this can be an uncomfortable experience for the patients.

However, the color reversal in most of the in-office products occurs more rapidly than in at-home tray-based bleaching products.

However, the technique fails to disclose the chemical reaction for achieving the desired effect of tooth whitening.

Moreover, there is no scientific evidence for a teeth whitening effect by irradiating teeth without using a chemical tooth whitening agent.

However, these features make the device very bulky to fit comfortably into the mouth of the patient.

Moreover, heat may not be properly provided, resulting in a poor whitening effect.

However, no reference is provided in support of the effectiveness of chromophores to achieve tooth whitening effect.

Therefore, the locking mechanism may provide poor stability to the electromagnetic radiation source.

Moreover, sometimes not the entire tooth surface needs the same degree of whitening treatment, as staining may not be uniform.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2007 / 0015112 and other techniques discussed above fail to teach selective irradiation of teeth that need to be whitened.

Moreover, none of the above described techniques disclose a mechanism to perform teeth whitening by bleaching with only light or light combined with heat.

However, the temperature probe is not implemented on a mouthpiece.

However, the applicator is implemented as a toothbrush and needs maneuvering by the patient for dental whitening.

However, the teeth may separate from tissue as a result of high sensitivity to excessive temperature.

Therefore, exposing the teeth to temperature over about 42 degrees centigrade for a long period of time, can damage the tissue and may cause irreversible damage and pain.

As a result, exposing the teeth to heat without controlling and / or limiting the temperature applied on the teeth, is a major safety issue.

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